BLOG: Inside College Hockey names Dell national goalie of the year

Goalie Aaron Dell has helped lead UND to the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four. (Herald file photo)

By Brad Elliott Schlossman

April 01, 2011 at 10:51 AM

Six months ago, you would have thought this was a bad April Fool's Day joke. But it's for real: Aaron Dell is the national goalie of the year, according to Inside College Hockey.

The site started announcing its awards early Friday morning and it honored the UND sophomore goalie who leads the nation in wins (30), goals-against average (1.81) and shutouts (six). Dell only played five games as a freshman and was expected to be the backup to two-time all-conference goalie Brad Eidsness this season.

But Dell grabbed the starting job and ran with it. He was named first-team all-WCHA and won MVP honors at the Midwest Regional last weekend in Green Bay. He allowed just one goal in 120 minutes of play during the regional.

By Brad Elliott Schlossman

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald's circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year once. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.